### Notes: The City’s plan for opening a second public cemetery for Black use can be traced back to Dr. [[Booker T. Washington]]’s November 2, 1910 visit to Rocky Mount, and the tremendous impact it had on 50-year-old public servant Thomas H. Battle as he personally struggled with the complexities of providing just and fair leadership for both the Black and the White races. On his tours across America, Dr. [[Booker T. Washington]] liked to meet with locally prominent Black citizens in their own homes, helping to strengthen their social standing within both Black and white society. In Rocky Mount, he enjoyed dinner and a toast at [[Dr. Peter W. Burnett]]’s beautiful new house at [[Burnett Home | 340 Pennsylvania Avenue]] (extant), where [[Rev. J. Burton Harper]] served as toastmaster. And in the weeks preceding his Rocky Mount visit, Dr. Washington promoted the “entirely owned and operated by Negroes” Rocky Mount Silk Manufacturing Company - Frank W. Davis, President of the Board of Directors, and Champ F. Rich, secretary, and attorney of the company.  At the end of their feast, the Saint Paul School band from Tarboro led a joyous procession from Dr. Burnett’s house around the corner to the British American Tobacco Company Prize House at 200 Goodleaf Street, where Washington spoke before a crowd of 4000 - including an estimated 1000 white people. Full of excitement, people hung from the rafters and balanced on hogsheads, trying to see the famous guest. ### Events: ****